Picture this: It is the year 2050. Everything is electronic. iPhones fly directly to your hand when called. Cars drive to your destination simply by plugging in an address. People ride around campus on hover boards (oh wait, that’s already a thing). No one communicates for fear of being different or out of the ordinary. I’m not picturing a world in which robots do your chores, no, this is a world where simple tasks and human interactions are completely devoid of feeling and personality.
The scary thing is that our society is already following down this dark and dangerous path and the consequences can be overwhelmingly frightening. Remember when kids would stay outside all day, playing sports or fictitious games, instead of inside playing the same things on a computer or game console? Remember when the main cause of car accidents used to be speeding instead of distracted driving? This society is one in which technology can come at the risk of death upon setting your finger on the unlock button of a phone.
Now picture this: It is the year 2016. The present. A boy, completely and hopelessly lovelorn for his dream girl, walks down the street. His head is bowed as he continues to swipe left on every girl on Tinder. A girl, heavily infatuated with the idea of love, walks down the same street. Her head is bowed as she scrolls through photos on Pinterest to add to her “Man Crush” and “Future Wedding” boards. They pass each other, unaware of the other’s presence. They both end up at the same venue later in the day, unbeknownst to one another. Perhaps some love stories aren’t meant to be had.
Is there a cure to this addiction to technology? That's the ultimate question. In Japan, they've created “Fasting Camps” so as to eliminate the screen-addiction kids have and introduce them to the outdoors and other activities. It is believed that large amounts of screen time can lead to obesity, depression, and sleep problems, in addition to a multitude of other detriments to one's health. Interestingly though, it was discovered that those kids who were unplugged from their electronics became depressed, admitting that the detachment to their devices left them feeling incredibly lonely and isolated. Is this evidence of a larger problem with society?
"The Internet is so big, so powerful and pointless that for some people it is a complete substitute for life." -Andrew Brown
When can we regain back our lives and stop engrossing ourselves in the technology behind every little thing? I miss spontaneity and adventure. I am not looking forward to the year 2050 if this seems to be the rate that electronics are progressing.